Chapter 38

CAUGHT IN THE TRAP

Diane’s P.O.V.

Be my girlfriend.

Be my girlfriend.

Be my girlfriend.

Liam was already done asking me about it, but those words still kept on running through my mind. I guessed I was still in a state of shock.

Actually, he didn’t ask me if I could be his girlfriend. He only asked me if I felt something for him, I nodded, and that was it. He wasn’t even sure what I felt over that something.

Confused, I knew that a sullen and brooding expression crossed my entire face. I wasn’t even expecting us to get into this so soon. I could not contain my happiness, but I guessed that it was all too quick. I didn’t have any experience of having a boyfriend, and of course, nurturing a relationship. Suddenly having doubts, I hardly bit my lower lip.

What should be my reaction? I didn’t want to look like an easy-to-get girl!

My thoughts got chaotically mixed, but it would never change the fact that I liked him. No. I began to love him. It was love at first sight—the moment I accidentally climbed inside his car last night.

Liam was the only man who could make me feel like this. He was the only man to whom my heart thumped faster as if it already belonged to him. He was the only man to whom my mind went crazy. It was only with him that I experienced those kinds of strange things I never encountered for twenty-one years.

But are those already enough reasons for me to say ‘yes’ to him? What if, yes, we would be happy once we were officially together, but we had to hurt the other people in exchange for that happiness? I didn’t want to be selfish with Liam, but maybe, it would be better for the two of us to stay as friends.

“Diane, it’s okay if you’re going to reject me for now. But at least give me a chance. Please, let me court you. Allow me to prove myself to you,” he pleaded. The way he said those words was mesmerizing. I was melting again by the depth of how he stared at me.

“B-But how about Leandro, Liam? I’m sure he will be hurt when he finds out about the two of us. I knew him, and you definitely knew his temper much better than me. I don’t want the two of you to fight all because of me. I don’t want your relationship to fall apart,” I forewarned.

Muddled with all the possibilities, I couldn’t help but think that everything could suddenly get distorted. I truly felt something for Liam, and I wouldn’t even want to see him with anybody else.

I was always at my happiest moment every time we were together, and no one else could ever make me feel that way aside from him. But it wasn’t my intention to hurt other people, and worst, his own brother! Leandro was still my friend, and I never wanted to hurt him. Albeit, I never expected loving Liam would take a lot of consequences. The thought made me bow my head.

In these tough times, I couldn’t help but blame myself, why of all the women in the world, Leandro had to like me. Knowing him, he wouldn’t just sit around the corner and do nothing when his dreams were shattering right in front of him. He would never give up that easily. He would surely do something about it.

Liam heaved a deep sigh out of torment, and that made me look at him.

“Please… take Leandro out of the picture, Diane. Do you think I didn’t care for him? I tried to treat you as a friend because I also thought about how my brother would feel. But now, I could no longer prioritize his feelings. I promise you that I will talk to Leandro as soon as possible and clear things up with him, okay?” His Adam’s apple moved up and down as he continued.

“I know that things are going so fast right now, but I can’t control how I feel about you anymore. And if you will always think about other people, what about your own feelings, Diane? And how about my feelings for you too? Are we just going to ignore everything even though we truly like each other?”

Liam tenderly caressed my left cheek, and I couldn’t help myself to fall for the warmth it brought me. Just his simple touch could make me feel like I was on fire already.

“Now I will ask you again, Diane. Given the scenario that if you do not take me now, you will never see me anymore. I will return to America for good and stay away from you. Would you let me go?” His eyes were expressing grief more than his lips.

Can I really let him go? Can I?

Why does it feel like I was being caught in the trap? But unlike others, it was a lovely trap. However, why does it feel like I used to have so many whys?

Just thinking about Liam going to leave, why couldn’t I accept it? I was still baffled about what I felt for him, but I didn’t want him to go away from me. Thinking about Leandro, I could still choose Liam on my free will. And with Liam going back to America doesn’t even seem to help. It was so far away, and there was almost a hundred-percent chance that we would never meet again.

“L-Liam, please… d-don’t make it hard for me,” I said meekly. I suddenly felt pressured, and I just hated the feeling.

Then, he smiled with his attractive dimple. “Okay, you got me there! That was only a joke. Now that I met you here, why would I even go back to America? But I guessed, I’ll go back there after you give your sweetest ‘yes’ to me. Of course, I have to introduce you to my parents. But for now, I’ll give you all the time in the world to decide, okay?”

“I won’t rush you, Diane. I know that like me, it quite overwhelms you how we were able to reach this stage after meeting just last night, and I’m so sorry about that. I’m not pressuring you, but one thing is for sure, I will still court you no matter what!” he remarked.

After that, he cupped both of my jaws and affectionately kissed me on the forehead. Then, he went out of the car and made his way to open the door for me.

He motioned me to accept his hand, and I gracefully did that. I went out carrying my bag and the dream catcher that he gave me. He opened the back door of the car to pick up the bouquet of red roses and the take-home food that he ordered for me.

“Can you bring all these inside your house?” he worriedly asked.

“Of course, I can! I can even carry a large gallon of mineral water in the club’s dressing room when no one else will place it into the dispenser. These things are just easy-breezy! Anyway, thanks for treating me this way. I’m sorry too because I’m not yet ready for any commitments. But still, I want you to know that I am so happy while being with you, and I would never trade that for anything else.”

With mixed emotions, I couldn’t help myself but hug him. However, since he was still carrying the huge bouquet and the paper bags where the take-home viands were placed, he found it difficult to cuddle me back. Liam ended up kissing my hair, and it already washed away my doubts, making me feel relaxed.

“Next time, just ask your bouncer in the club to take care of those things. I don’t want you to get exhausted. I don’t want you lifting some heavy objects, or else I’ll ditch my work and go straight to you. I will be the one to lift that gallon for you, okay?” He was threatening me but seeing his stunning dimple was enough for me not to be afraid of him.

He looked so cute that I wanted to squeeze both of his cheeks. I only gave him a beatific smile of contentment.

“Get inside. Sleep tight and dream of me, of us…” he ordered, and that was when his dimple had gotten even deeper. He led me to the gate and I opened the padlock first before he gave me the things that he was carrying.

We parted our ways when I entered inside our gate. Liam even did me a favor of locking the padlock. Using my right hand, I hugged the bouquet in front of me while my left hand was holding the dream catcher and the food paper bag.

Placing the bouquet for the meantime on the bench outside, I used my keys to unlock the door. I carried again the red roses before sauntering inside. Liam even waited for me to enter our house before he sexily climbed into his car and drove away. But before that, he was signaling me that I should close the door first so that he could leave as well.

Until now, I still couldn’t believe that Liam liked me too. I would never want to sleep tonight because reality was indeed so much better.

When I closed the door, all of the things I was carrying slipped through my hands and fell into the wood parquet floor. Staring blankly at nowhere, I pinned my back against the door. I didn’t know how to react. My heart was jumping steadily fast and screaming all out loud.

Mindlessly touching my lips, I smiled as hidden and mutual feelings were about to be revealed. I didn’t know if I would be able to sleep tonight after what happened. I was just too excited. The feeling had led me to swallow several times and place my hands on my chest, as it was about to explode like a silent hand grenade.